Armed Forces Day Ceremony Returns to Gyeryongdae... Showcases Manned and Unmanned Capabilities
Significantly Reduced Scale Compared to Last Year
Strategic Assets Such as Hyunmoo-5 on Display
Awards Presented to Defenders of Constitutional Values
On October 1, the South Korean military held a ceremony to mark the 77th anniversary of Armed Forces Day. Unlike the large-scale street parades held in 2023 and 2024 following the 12·3 Martial Law, this year’s event was held at Gyeryongdae in a relatively simplified manner, reflecting the pragmatism of the Lee Jaemyung administration.
The Ministry of National Defense announced that the ceremony, held under the theme “An Advanced and Strong Military with the People,” took place on the main parade ground at Gyeryongdae, where the Army, Navy, and Air Force headquarters are located. The event was attended by over 990 service members, more than 100 pieces of equipment, and approximately 4,400 spectators, guests, and dignitaries, totaling around 5,000 participants.
As this was the first Armed Forces Day event held since the 12·3 Martial Law, the emphasis was placed on harmony and communication between civilians and the military. Seventy-seven representatives of the public were selected to participate in the main events and commemorative luncheon, with seven of them accompanying President Lee Jaemyung, the Commander-in-Chief, during his entrance to the venue. These seven included Lee Jongseon (95), a Korean War veteran; Park Beomjin (62) and Na Seonrim (60), a married couple who raised three sons as officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force; and Cha Seyoun (19), a descendant of militia leader Lim Byeongchan.
The ceremony featured displays of weapon systems representing the Korean three-axis system and the K-Defense industry. The three-axis system equipment included the long-range surface-to-air missile L-SAM, a core component of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD); Cheongung, the medium-range surface-to-air missile known as the Korean Patriot; the Haeseong anti-ship and surface-to-surface missile; and the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, nicknamed the “Monster Missile.” The K-Defense industry was also represented by the K-9 self-propelled howitzer and the K-2 Black Panther main battle tank.
Additionally, various manned and unmanned complex weapon systems slated for future deployment were introduced. These included a collaboration-based autonomous exploration robot, an explosive ordnance detection and disposal robot, a multi-robot cooperative autonomous system, a low-observable unmanned squadron aircraft, small and medium-sized loitering munitions, and a multi-purpose stealth drone, many of which were unveiled for the first time.
The subsequent aerial demonstration featured the domestically developed Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), Apache helicopters, the Surion utility helicopter, the Marineon amphibious helicopter for the Marine Corps, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, as well as the F-35A, F-15K, and KF-21 fighter jets.
However, the overall scale of the event was reduced compared to the large-scale military parades and street marches held in 2023 and 2024. Last year’s 76th anniversary ceremony saw over 5,000 troops and 5,100 spectators, with the total number of participants reaching around 10,000, and the event was held at Seoul Air Base and in downtown Seoul. This year, the ceremony returned to the main parade ground at Gyeryongdae, resulting in a significant reduction in both the number of participants and the budget. The commander overseeing the parade was Army Major General Choi Jangsik, whereas last year the position was held by Army Lieutenant General Kim Bongsu.
The only U.S. assets featured in this year’s event were two F-16 fighter jets, the mainstay of U.S. Forces Korea. This contrasts with last year, when U.S. strategic assets such as the B-1B strategic bomber, known as the “Lancer,” were showcased. This is interpreted as an effort by the Lee Jaemyung administration to avoid provoking tensions, given its emphasis on easing inter-Korean tensions and restoring the September 19 Military Agreement.
The Ministry of National Defense stated, “This 77th Armed Forces Day ceremony is a special occasion to reaffirm and pledge our commitment to a military that protects constitutional values and democracy, and that stands with the people. It will serve as an opportunity for service members to be celebrated as the main protagonists and to boost morale.”
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Meanwhile, medals and commendations were awarded to distinguished individuals during the ceremony. Notably, Marine Colonel Park Junghoon, who led the initial investigation into the “Private Chae Incident” and was recognized for upholding constitutional values, received the Order of National Security Merit, Samil Medal. Army Sergeant Major Kang Byeongguk was awarded the Order of National Security Merit, Boguk Medal. Additionally, Navy Rear Admiral Kim Kyungcheol received the Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal, and Air Force Colonel Park Jiweon was presented with the Presidential Citation for their contributions to national security.
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